Agenda item

The Director of Law and Democratic Services submitted a report introducing decisions arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 9^th December 2015.

44.      Delivering the Vision – Growing Swindon’s Economy

Councillor Garry Perkins, Cabinet Member for the Economy, Regeneration and Skills responded to questions put by the Chair and Councillors Des Moffatt and Chris Watts on the following matters:

·        Forward Swindon and the delivery of the Vision objectives and associated projects.

·        The role of the Cabinet Member in supporting the delivery of the Vision.

·        The development of Higher Education at a cost of £50,000 in preference to the development of Secondary Education.

·        The European Structural Investment Fund contribution of £98,000 would be subject to the impact of any future EU Referendum.

·        The plans in place in the event that European investments did not materialise.

·        The continuing reduction of funding from Central Government and the increasing dependence on Business Rates to help fund future projects.

·        The focus of Forward Swindon on the promotion of projects, particularly the delivery of Town Centre projects, in the short term.

Resolved – That Minute  44 of the Cabinet be noted.

45.      2016-2020 Direction of Travel, Financial Context and Budget Proposals

Councillor Russell Holland, Cabinet Member for Finance, People and Performance, responded to questions put by the Chair and Councillors Stan Pajak, Chris Watts and Des Moffatt on the following matters:

·        The proposed Council Tax increase of 1.94%, and support for an increase of a further 2% to fund shortfalls in social care budgets.

·        The need to ask residents about the services they wish the Council to provide, in particular the provision of the children service centres

·        The breakdown of the £100m.

·        Proposals to achieve the savings on Grounds and Street Cleaning Services and Leisure, Community Assets and Culture.

·        The use of the New Homes Bonus as a source of base budget funding.

·        Concern that the amount received from Business Rates would be a reduction in funding compared to the current Grant received from the Government.

·        The delivery of local services by Parish Councils  and the effect on budgets should the Parish Councils decide to not deliver these services

·        The proposal to discontinue the Localities Fund and the effect on the One Swindon Partnership Fund.

·        The detailed facts and figures to justify the savings put forward in the Council’s budget proposals.

·        The need for a risk assessment to be carried out on the potential consequences of any reduction and closure of services.

·        The effect on the safety in the Town if anti-social behaviour services were streamlined.  

Resolved – That Minute 45 of the Cabinet be noted.

46.      Capital Programme Monitoring – Second Quarter and Treasury Management 2015/16

Resolved – That Minute 46 of the Cabinet be noted.

47.      Result of the Consultation on Short Breaks for Disabled Children, Young People and their Families

Councillor Fionuala Foley, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, responded to questions put by the Chair and Councillor Des Moffatt on the following matters:

·        The funding decisions previously made about the service.

·        The connection between the reduction in support for families and the level of pressure and anxiety they experience.

·        Benchmarking with other local authorities and how they manage the demand for their short breaks service.

Resolved – That Minute 47 of the Cabinet be noted.

48       Future of Swindon Borough Council Operated Nurseries

Councillor Fionuala Foley, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, responded to questions put by the Chair and Councillor Stan Pajak on the capital investment required to complete immediate maintenance at the Children’s Nursery in Euclid Street and proposals for the site.

Resolved – That Minute 48 of the Cabinet be noted.

49.      Changes to Swindon Borough Council’s Fostering Agency Foster Panel Membership

Councillor Fionuala Foley, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, responded to questions put by the Chair and Councillors Oliver Donachie, Vera Tomlinson, Mick Bray and Carol Shelley on the following matters:

·        The removal of the need to appoint elected members to the Swindon Foster Panel and the new members of the Panel.

·        Concern that the role of the local member was being reduced.

·        The role of members as corporate parents and the relevance of members on the Foster Panel.

·        Concern that lay members of the Foster Panel would have a limited view point based on their professional background, whereas Council members have a broad range of understanding that would be beneficial to the Panel.

·        The details about recent changes in the regulations governing Foster Panels.

Resolved – That Minute 49 of the Cabinet be noted.

50.      Response to Council Motion on Refugees

Councillor David Renard, Leader of the Council and Chair of Cabinet, responded to questions put by the Chair and Councillors Stan Pajak, Chris Watts and Oliver Donachie on the following matters:

·        The support available to groups helping refugees who arrive in Swindon, particularly, the availability and use of support grants.

·        The identification of empty properties and potential renovation projects that could house refugees.

·        Details about the four migrations dispersal centres in the South West and the number of refugees being helped in Swindon.

Resolved – That Minute 50 of the Cabinet be noted.

51.      References from other Bodies

Councillor David Renard, Leader of the Council and Chair of Cabinet, responded to a question put by the Chair on the progress being made in relation to the Swindon Safety Partnership Board making a priority of domestic abuse

Resolved – That Minute 51 of the Cabinet be noted.

52.      Mr Gavin Jones, Chief Executive and Ian Willcox, Committee and Member Services Manager

The Chair and members of the Committee expressed their appreciation for the help and support of the Chief Executive and Committee and Member Services Manager over the years, in particular for the contributions made in relation to the development of the Councils Scrutiny function.

The Director of Law and Democratic Services reported that Steve Jones, Committee Officer, had been appointed as Interim Committee and Member Services Manager and consequently he would take on the role of the Councils Statutory Scrutiny Officer.

Resolved – That Minute 52 and 53 of the Cabinet be noted.

It was agreed that information requested by individual members during the course of the Committee’s consideration of the Cabinet decisions should be forwarded to the Committee Clerk for distribution to Scrutiny Committee members.